Retired Goodyear blimp gondola joins Cleveland historical society exhibit on autos, aviation
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The gondola of the decommissioned Spirit of Goodyear blimp has landed at its new home in a Cleveland historical society exhibit.
The 3,400-pound gondola was built in 1982 and was also used on two earlier blimps, the America and Stars & Stripes. After the Spirit of Goodyear was retired a year ago, Akron-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. donated the gondola to the Western Reserve Historical Society's Crawford Auto Aviation Collection.
The Akron Beacon Journal reports (http://bit.ly/1GAgX8k) the historical society's president calls the gondola an "eyewitness to so much history." The blimps flew crew members and passengers above major sporting events such as the Super Bowl and the World Series.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Goodyear is replacing its blimp fleet with three new airships. The first was unveiled last year.